Steam-engine



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

G. W. BIGELO W.

'STEA M ENGINE.

No. 374,034. Patented Nov. 29, 1887.

u, PETERS, Phaloljlhngmpher, wmm m, my a 2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

(No Model.)

' G. W. BIGEL'OW.

STEAM ENGINE. No. 374,034.

Patented Nov. 29, 1887.

NY PETERS. mwmm rm, Washington. 0. a

. UNITED STATES PATENT Darren.

GEORGE W. BIGELOW', OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

STEAM-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 374,034, dated November 29, 1887.

Application filed March 24, 1887. Serial No. 332,248. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE W. BIGELOW, of New Haven, in'the' county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Steam-Engines; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with accompanying drawings, and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same,

and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in-

Figure 1, a side view of the engine complete, a portion of the side and cover of the chamber beneath the cylinders broken away to Show the reversing mechanism; Fig. 2, a topor plan view of the shaft detached, showing the eccen trio and its reversing mechanism; Figs. 3 and 4, horizontal sections through the eccentric and its operative mechanism, illustrating the eccentric in its two extreme positions; Fig. 5, an edge view of the guide-plate detached; Fig. 6, aface view of the guide-plate detached; Fig. 7, a central section of the eccentric detached; Fig. 8, a face view of the eccentric detached; Fig. 9, a section through the eccentric and its guide-plate at right angles to the guides; Fig. 10, a side view, and Fig. 11 a face view, of the adjusting-collar detached.

This invent-ion relates to an improvement in that class of steam-engines which consist of two vertical cylinders arranged side by side, with the valve between, and having the shaft arranged beneath the two cylinders, with a crank for each cylinder, the cranks being in opposite directions, and the eccentric for operating the valve arranged on the shalt be tween the two cranks, this being, broadly considered, a common construction of engines.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and convenient mechanism, applied between the two cranks and directly to the eccentric, whereby the action of the valve may be reversed to change the direction of the pistons.

In illustrating my invention I do not show the details of construction of the cylinders and valve and their connection with the cranks and eccentric, as that is too common and well known to require description.

A represents the base or bed of the engine,

which forms a chamber, on the top of which the two-cylinders are arranged side by side,

with the valve-chamber and valve between, the cylinders and valvechamber being inclosed by the casing B.

In suitable bearings, C C, one at each end of the base or chamber beneath the cylinders, the crankshaft D is supported. This shaft extends through the chambers beneath the cylinders and is provided with the usual oppositely-turned cranks, E F, these cranks being directly below the respective cylinders, and so as to leave a space between the two cranks for the eccentric which works the valve, and which is the usual arrangement of the crank-shaft.

Fixed to the drivingshaft, between the cranks and preferably secured to one of the cranks, E, is a disk or plate, G, so as to positively revolve with the shaft. On the side of the plate G is a pair of parallel guide-ribs, H H; one each side the shaft. (See Figs. 5 and 6.)

I represents the eccentric, which is in the form of adisk, (see Figs. 7 and 8,) having the usual groove, J ,in its periphery to receive the eccentric-strap. Axially through the eccentric is an elongated opening, K, its narrower, diameter corresponding substantially to the diameter of the shaft, or somewhat larger, its longerdiameter as much greater than the diameter of the shaft as the alignment required for the eccentric. The eccentric is adapted to pass onto the shaft against the rib side of the plate G, and on that side of the eccentric is a rib, L, corresponding in width to the space between the ribs H H, and so as to set between them, as seen in Fig. 9, the ribs H H forming guides to support the eccentric and permit this movement in a radial direction parallel with the said ribs.

' The eccentric is adj ustably held to the plate G by bolts through slots M in the eccentric into corresponding screw-threaded holes N in the ribs H, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 9, these bolts simplyholding the eccentric in its place between the guides HH, but leaving it free for radial movement.

Through the eccentric and in the plane of the longest diameter of the opening K therein a slot, 0, is made at one end of the said opening K, and a similar slot, P, at the opposite ICO end. (See Figs. 7 and S.) The outer ends of these two slots are oblique and inclined in the same direction to the axis of the shaft, so that they together form a slot through the eccentric having ends alike oblique to the axis of the shaft, and as seen in Fig. 9.

0n the shaft and near the eccentric a collar, B, is arranged, adapted to slide longitudinally on the shaft. On the side of this collar next the eccentric is a pair of wings, S T, (see Figs. 10 and 11,) corresponding in thickness, re spectivcly, to the slots 0 P in the eccentric. The outer ends of the two wings are oblique to the axis of the collar, the obliquity of the ends corresponding to the ends of the slots 0 P in the eccentric-that is to say, the two wings S '1 form a rib, as it were, on the side of the collar R, adapted to rest in and fill the slots 0 P in the eccentric, and as seen in Figs. 3 and 4, but yet so that the collar, with the wings,is free to be moved longitudinally on the shaft independent of the eccentric.

\Vhcn the collar stands in a position sub stantially close up to the face of the eccentric, the wings S T are forced to their extreme inward position, and the inclinations of the wings S T working against the corresponding ends of the slots in the eccentric support the eccentric at one extreme position, as seen in Fig. 3. If, now, the collar It be withdrawn from the eccentric, the inclination of the Wings S T will act upon the ends of the slot in the eccentric, and will accordingly slide the eccentric to the opposite extreme, as seen in Fig. 4, so that the eccentric being set, as in Fig. 3, to operate the valve to drive the piston and crank-shaft in one direction, the collar R withdrawn, as in Fig. 4, will throw the eccentric to the opposite direction and cause a reverse action of the pistons upon the crank-shaft.

In Figs. 3 and i the eccentric is shown at the two opposite extremes; but it will be understood that it may be held at any intermediate position by a greater or less extent of movement of the collar B, so that, if desired, the eccentric may be thrown in either direction for any desired extent of throw up to the maximum.

To operate the collar, I construct it with an annular groove, a, and into this groove I place a divided ring, I), and upon one side of the shaft, as at d, I hang one end of a lever, e. This lever spans the divided ring I), and is connected thereto by trunnions f at diametrically opposite points. (See Figs. 1 and 2.) Ihen to the opposite end of the lever e a rod, is hung, which extends out through the end of the crank-chamber, the outer end of the rod being hung to a lever, h, and so that by the movement of the lever h the lever 6 may be thrown to one direction or the other, according to the movement required for the collar R to shift the eccentric.

This engine is designed especially for marine work, and in such engines I connect the lever 71 to a hand-lever, Z, by a connection, m, (see Fig. 1,) for the convenience of the engineer in adjusting the eccentric. Under this construction I bring the reversing-gear within the crank-chamber and in a central position between the cranks, and, under the arrangement I have described, I am enabled to bring the reversing mechanism and all its connections into a single structure, independent of the surrounding devices, so that the engine may be set up complete in itself.

The chamber beneath the cylinders, and in which the crank-shaft,with all it carries, is arranged, is closed; but upon one side is an opening, (see Fig. 1,) which is provided with a cover secured to the opening. (Represented in Fig. 1 as the cover broken away for convenience of illustration.)

It will be understood that the construction of the engine, broadly considered, is one common and well known as the \Vcstinghouse engine, and I am aware that in this engine the governor has been arranged upon the shaft between the cranks, the said governor being adapted to adjust the eccentric to regulate the speed of the engine. I do not, thereforawish to be understood as claiming anything shown or described in the Westinghouse patents. I wish it also to be understood that I do not claim, broadly, as of my invention the eccentric and sliding collar carrying wings presenting an oblique surface and adapted to operate upon a corresponding oblique surface in the eccentric, whereby the eccentric may be thrown to one side or the other to reverse the engine, as such, I am aware, is not new.

I claim 1. In an engine consisting of a pair of vertical cylinders having a valve-chamber between them, a double-crank shaftlocated below said cylinders, and with which double cranks the pistons of the respective cylinders are connected,with an eccentric on the shaft between the cranks, adapted to operate the valve in the chamber between the cylinders, the combination therewith of a plate fixed to said shaft and carrying parallel guides at right angles to the axis of said shaft, the said eccentric constructed with a rib upon its side adapted to work between said guides, so as to permit radial adjustment of said eccentric, the said eccentric constructed with an elongated opening around said shaft, and with a slot therein extending radially in both directions from said opening, the outer ends of said slots oblique to the axis of the shaft, with a collararranged upon said shaft and free for longitudinal movement, the said collar constructed with wings having oblique outer ends corresponding to and adapted to work in the slots of the eccentric,with mechanism, substantially such as described, to impart sliding movement to said collar on the shaft, substantially as described.

2. In a steam-engine consisting of a pair of vertical cylinders having a valve-chamber between them, a double-crank shaft located in a closed chamber below said cylinders, and with which double cranks the pistons of the respective cylinders are connected, with an eccentric on the shaft between the cranks adapted to operate the valve in the chamber between the cylinders, the combination therewith of a plate fixed .to the shaft carrying guides H, one each side the shaft and parallel with each other, the eccentric I, constructed with a rib, L, corresponding to and adapted to work between said guides H H, the said eccentric also constructed with an elongated opening, K, to permit it to slide radially upon the shaft, the said eccentric also constructed with slots 0 1?, extending from opposite ends of said opening K, and the outer ends of said slots 0 P alike oblique to the axis of the shaft, with the collar R, arranged upon the shaft free for longitudinal movement, the said collar constructed with wings S T, their outer ends'oblique, corresponding respectively to the slots 0 P in the eccentric and adapted to work therein, the said collar constructed with an annular groove, a, a ring, I), loose in said groove, a lever, e, hung at one side of said collar and spanning said ring hung thereto by trunnions f f, a swinging'lever outside said chamber, and a connection, g, therefrom to the said 1ever 6, substantially as and for the purpose described.

GEORGE W. BIGELOW.

Witnesses:

JOHN E. EARLE, FRED O. EARLE. 

